aestuarium displays the most recent paintings by Sunaryo which represent his holistic and cosmic perspective in understanding nature and humans. aestuarium is a metaphor for a meeting of antagonistic powers or life forces (for example: river-ocean, sky-earth, land-sea, nature-man, soft-strong, etc.). Indeed from the beginning Sunaryo was inspired by natural phenomenon. But his point of view about nature is no longer limited to the classic anthropocentric dichotomy. Humans are not the most dominant focal point in determining a definition of ‘nature’ and conquering it. For Sunaryo humans are an inseparable part of nature itself. The life forces of humans basically represent the life force of nature which is full of mystery. His paintings this time are not an abstraction of visual phenomenon in nature; instead they are a manifestation of an attitude of surrendering oneself to the forces of nature which are both seen and unseen. The process of painting for Sunaryo can be compared to the way an antennae works which captures those life forces, then converts them into an artistic language.

About the artist:

Sunaryo is known as versatile artist whose activities have been multi-faceted. After graduating with a degree in sculpture from ITB in the 1960s, he has never limited his artistic expression to any one medium. He does make sculptures, but he also paints, makes graphic prints, designs monuments, creates stage settings and landscapes, is involved in architectural projects, etc., besides dedicating almost half his life to teaching at his alma mater. When the time for his retirement was approaching almost 15 years ago, he established an art center in Bandung. All that Sunaryo has done until now reflects a totality and dedication to art in Indonesia.

-Equator Art Projects

Image: © Sunaryo & Equator Art Projects
The Looming Dark Estuary
2013
Acrylic, resin on canvas
150 x 150cm